Acuity Scheduling
Acuity Scheduling is a flexible online appointment booking software that automates your calendar management, client intake forms, and payment collection to streamline your entire scheduling workflow.
Square Appointments
Square Appointments is an all-in-one scheduling and point-of-sale software that helps service-based businesses manage online bookings, process payments, and track customer relationships from a single integrated platform.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Acuity Scheduling | Square Appointments |
|---|---|---|
| Website | acuityscheduling.com | squareupspace.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $20/month | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 7 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2006 | 2009 |
| Headquarters | New York, USA | San Francisco, USA |
Overview
Acuity Scheduling
Acuity Scheduling acts as a 24/7 personal assistant for your business, allowing clients to view your real-time availability and book their own appointments. You can move beyond back-and-forth emails by sharing a customized booking page where clients select services, complete intake forms, and pay deposits upfront. The platform automatically handles time zone conversions and sends branded confirmations to ensure everyone stays on the same page.
You can manage multiple staff calendars, offer group classes, and set up recurring appointments with ease. It helps you reduce no-shows through automated text and email reminders while keeping your data organized in a centralized dashboard. Whether you are a solo consultant or manage a large clinic, the software scales to fit your specific booking requirements and administrative needs.
Square Appointments
Square Appointments is a versatile scheduling solution designed to help you run your service-based business more efficiently. Whether you are a solo practitioner or managing a large team, you can automate your calendar and let clients book their own sessions 24/7 through a custom booking website or social media integrations.
The platform goes beyond simple scheduling by integrating a full point-of-sale system directly into your workflow. You can accept payments, manage inventory, and track customer history without switching between different tools. It eliminates the headache of no-shows by allowing you to require prepayments or cancellation fees, ensuring your time remains profitable and your schedule stays full.
Overview
Acuity Scheduling Features
- Self-Service Booking Give your clients the freedom to book, cancel, or reschedule their own appointments based on your real-time availability.
- Custom Intake Forms Gather critical client information during the booking process so you are fully prepared before every meeting starts.
- Automated Reminders Reduce costly no-shows by sending automated, branded email and text notifications to your clients before their scheduled time.
- Payment Integration Collect full payments or deposits via Stripe, Square, or PayPal at the exact moment a client books with you.
- Time Zone Syncing Eliminate scheduling confusion for international clients with automatic time zone detection and conversion for every booking.
- Calendar Coordination Sync your schedule with Google Calendar, iCloud, and Outlook to prevent double-bookings across your personal and professional life.
Square Appointments Features
- Online Booking Site. Create a professional, custom-branded booking website where your clients can view your availability and book services anytime.
- Automated Reminders. Reduce no-shows by sending automated text and email reminders to your clients before their scheduled appointments.
- Integrated Payments. Process credit cards and digital wallets instantly with built-in payment processing that links directly to your appointments.
- No-Show Protection. Protect your time by requiring clients to enter a credit card on file or pay a deposit upfront.
- Staff Management. Manage multiple staff calendars, set individual permissions, and track performance metrics for your entire team in one place.
- Customer Directory. Keep detailed profiles of your clients including their appointment history, personal preferences, and previous purchase records.
Pricing Comparison
Acuity Scheduling Pricing
- 1 staff member/location
- Client self-scheduling
- Unlimited appointments
- Automatic confirmations & reminders
- Payment processing integrations
- Vaulting credit cards for later
- Everything in Emerging, plus:
- Up to 6 staff members/locations
- SMS/Text message reminders
- Packages, gift certificates, & subscriptions
- Appointment memberships
- Group classes and workshops
Square Appointments Pricing
- For a single location
- Custom booking website
- Automated SMS & email reminders
- Unlimited staff accounts
- Square POS integration
- Credit card on file for no-shows
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Reduced payment processing rates
- Multiple location management
- Automated confirmations
- Google Calendar sync
- Advanced staff management
Pros & Cons
Acuity Scheduling
Pros
- Highly customizable booking pages match your brand
- Excellent automated time zone management for global clients
- Reliable syncing with major third-party calendars
- Intuitive interface for both admins and clients
- Robust mobile app for managing bookings on-the-go
Cons
- Initial setup can be time-consuming for complex schedules
- SMS reminders are not available on the entry-level plan
- Limited design flexibility without knowledge of custom CSS
Square Appointments
Pros
- Seamless integration with the broader Square ecosystem
- Extremely easy setup for non-technical business owners
- Generous free tier for solo practitioners
- Reliable mobile app for managing bookings on-the-go
Cons
- Customization options for booking sites are limited
- Customer support can be difficult to reach
- Advanced features require moving to paid tiers